Washing-machine



(No Model.)

No. 407,130. Patent-ed July 16, 1889.v

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2* NR m M A M G N I D s A DW q m M m Patented July 16 1889.

DAVID D. SHANNON,

WASHING- PATENT OFFICE.

OF OVID, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,130, dated July 16, 1889.

Application filed September 12, 1887. Serial No. 249,422. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID D. SHANNON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ovid, in the county of Clinton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ashing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to awashing-machine, the object of which is to provide a machine for washing garments that will be durable, simple, easily operated, and effectual in its results. This object I accomplish by locating within a water-tight tub a plunger-head having an arm with lever pivotally attached thereto for the purpose Of reciprocating said head, and providing the bottom of said tub with a detachable elevated slatted or straining platform, on which the garments to be washed are placed. At one end of said platform and extending across the tub is a partition forming a return-port for the escape of water when the plungerl1ead is forced down. Said port is provided at its upper opening with a float or cover, which acts as a valve and rises and falls by the pressure of the water caused by the movement of said plunger-head. lVhen the plunger-head is forced down upon the garments, the water in the tub will be forced through said garments and through the slatted platform into and up through the port at the end of the tub, when it will raise the float or cover and discharge onto the plungerhead, which has a valve in its center to allow the water when the plunger is raised to pass back onto the garments. The dirt, grit, and foul matter may be drawn off by a faucet from the bottom of the discharge and return chamber, all of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and the essential features of the invention pointed out particularly in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine, having a portion of the side broken away to show internal arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking to the left of Figs. 1 and 2, having the end portion broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the slatted or straining platform. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the plunger-head, showing by dotted lines the position of the valve and having one edge broken away to show arrangement of spring and sliding cleat, which allows for the shrinkage and swelling of said plunger-head.

\Vith reference to the drawings, S represents the suds-tub; B, the sides; A, the bottom and h, the legs to same.

WV shows a partition which extends across one end of the tub, forming a dischargechamber m for the escape of water from the sudsbox.

K represents the plunger or reciprocating head, which fits snugly within the suds-box, and is provided at its center with an opening Z, having a valve Z 011 the under side thereof, which is held in position and allowed to rise and fall by pins a, which pass loosely through the plunger-head, and enter the valve Z at each corner thereof, being suiiiciently long to allow said valve to rise and fall to cut off and admit the water through the opening Z. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 5.) In a recess or slot formed in one edge of said plunger-head I locate a strip of rubber V, which serves as a packing, (see Figs. 2 and 5,) and in one edge also of said head, and at right angles to the rubber V, I place within the recess 71/ formed therein a strip or cleat of wood Y, having an oblong opening 2" through each end, which receive the pins 0 c, passing through the plunger-head, and has a spring S attached to its back edge at 0', whereby said strip is held against the side of the sudsbox, acting as a packing and allowing the head to swell and shrink and still maintain an easy action within said suds-box.

The plunger-head K is operated by means of the arm 0, which is attached thereto by braces b at its lower end, and is pivotally attached at its upper end, by means of the straps n and pivot e, to the lever D, which is connected to a cross-beam R, pivoted at e to the projecting upper ends of the rear legs h of the tub, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4 H shows-a removable platform, in

- which B represents the bot-tom portion having parallel ribs a, formed integral therewith, with metal strips d bent once upon themselves and inserted transversely in slots formed in said parallel ribs, but do not ex tend the full depth of the ribs, whereby a series of channels 0 are formed at the under edge of said metal strips extending the full length of the platform, which carry the water from the garments to the discharge and return port mformed at one end of the suds-box. Said platform is placed in the bottom of the suds-box, resting upon cleats t 15, which elevate it slightly to form a chamber or space 0 for the dirt, grit, and settlings to collect in, which may be drawn off by the faucet f. (Shown in Figs. 1. and 2.) One end of said platform rests against the under edge of the partition WV. The other end is held by the cleat c, which prevents said platform from floating or rising by the suction produced by the movement of the plunger-head, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) but may be removed from said sudsboX by forcing said platform endwise under the partition, as shown by dotted lines, and

- raising the rear end up, when it may be readily lifted out to rinse or clean the bottom of the suds-box.

The upper end of the discharge and return portm is provided with a valve or floating cover B, one edge of which rests on the top of the partition W, the other edge against the side B of the tub, and is provided at each end with downwardly-projecting arms f, the rear edges of which rest also against the side B of the tub and serve only to hold the cover in position over the port m as it rises and falls by the pressure of water, as shown by arrows in Fig. 1. p

t' 1'- represent cleats, which are dovetailed into and cross the under face of the plungerhead K.

It will be observed from the foregoing arran gement of parts that when the suds-box is filled with water and garments to be washed, and the plunger-head is forced own upon the same by means of the lever D, the valve Z in the plunger-head will close, preventing the escape of water therethrough, whereby it will be forced through the interstices of the garments, passing into the channels 0 of the removable platform and into the return-port m, as shown by arrows in Fig. 2, whenby its pressure the valve or float R will be raised,

allowing the water to pass back into the suds.

box on top of the plunger-head K, as shown by arrows in Fig. 1. Then when the plunger-head is raised the valve Z will be caused to drop or open, allowing the water to pass through onto the garments, as shown by arrows inFig. 2, whereby, by continuing the reciprocation of the plunger-head, the water will be alternately forced through the garments and back onto same until the desired results are obtained, when the plunger-head may be removed by throwing the lever D in a reverse position to that shown in Fig.2. The dirt, settlings, and foul matter will collect in the chamber 0 and at the bottom of the return-port m, which may be drawn off by the faucet f. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.)

Having thus fully set forth my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with the suds-box, the plunger-head having the rubber strip let into one edge of said head, the cleat Y, and spring for actuating said cleat located in the edge of said plunger-head at right angles to the rubber strip, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID D. SHANNON.

VV'itnesses: H. M. HUGH,

R. N. BAGLEY. 

